Sometimes after an auction ends, a seller might offer to sell you the item you were bidding on, even though you weren't the winner. This could be because they found more stock, or their reserve price wasn't met but they still want to sell the item.
With a Second Chance Offer, the item is available for you to buy at the amount you offered in your last bid.
Tip
If you don't want to receive Second Chance Offers, you can opt out of receiving them by changing your communications preferences - opens in new window or tab in My eBay.
How Second Chance Offers work
If a seller makes you a Second Chance Offer, we'll send you a "You have a Second Chance Offer" email. It'll also be in your Messages - opens in new window or tab.
Depending on the offer, you'll have either 1, 3, 5, or 7 days to consider the offer and respond. If you want to accept the offer, just select Buy it in the email and complete payment like any other eBay purchase. You can also view and accept any Second Chance Offers you've received in the Bids/Offers section of My eBay.
Confirming a Second Chance Offer is legitimate
Here's how you'll know your Second Chance Offer is legitimate:
- You'll see it in your eBay Messages - opens in new window or tab
- You'll see it in My eBay, in the Bids/Offers section - opens in new window or tab
You might also see a message on the ended listing page. To view the details, select the link in the message.
We'll never send a Second Chance Offer email with the subject line "Message from eBay Member". If you receive an email with that subject line, it's a fake email, and not from us. Please forward the email to spoof@ebay.com.
Learn more about recognizing and reporting fake emails.
Tip
One of our top priorities is protecting our members so we don't allow offers to buy or sell items off our site. When this happens, it poses a risk of fraud and buyers and sellers aren't covered by our protection programs if something goes wrong.